Lush green leaves, birdsong, and the occasional silent observer on four legs. A walk in the woods can be both relaxing and exciting, offering many interesting things for young and old alike to discover. The forest provides habitat for numerous animal and plant species and simultaneously plays a vital role as a catalyst in nature. It gives us the air we breathe, while producing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the forest is a source of raw materials, including wood with the quality seal "Made by Nature." However, this complex ecosystem is very fragile and sensitive to external changes. Heat, drought, and pest infestations have been taking a heavy toll on our forests for years.
Böker also takes the issue of forest dieback very seriously and, in cooperation with the Bergisches Land Forestry Association (FWV-BL), launched the "Böker Tree Campaign." Thanks to the overwhelming response to the promise to plant a tree in the Bergisches Land region with every order, local forest areas have been sustainably reforested. The result: 12,000 trees have been planted, so that a vibrant forest will grow there again in a few years. Eckhard Schulte, the chairman of the FWV-BL, sheds light on the causes of forest dieback and provides insights into strategies for reforesting cleared forest areas.
What causes forest dieback and what role does the bark beetle play in it?
From 2018 onwards, we experienced three consecutive summers of extreme heat and drought. Rainfall during the crucial period from April to August was far too low compared to the necessary needs. This severely impacted the forests in the Bergisches Land region. Several storms further exacerbated the situation, felling numerous trees. This is where the bark beetle comes into play. Deadwood provides an ideal breeding ground for the bark beetle, which is a specific pest of the widespread spruce tree. The beetle creates its brood galleries in the cambium of the tree, which normally defends itself with resin flow, effectively suffocating the bark beetle. However, the extreme conditions meant that the trees produced hardly any resin, allowing the bark beetle to multiply explosively, producing up to four broods per year. This led to the dieback of the spruce forests and necessitated large-scale clear-cutting. The spruce is considered the dominant tree species in the Bergisches Land region.
How will the landscape of our forests change in the future?
Our forests consist of roughly one-third deciduous trees. However, these are not necessarily considered valuable timber, unlike, for example, the Spessart oak from the Spessart region. There are some good beech trees here and there, but overall, deciduous tree species have been somewhat neglected. In light of global warming and CO2 emissions, we must focus on a targeted composition of tree species that can withstand climate change.
How do you react to the radical deforestation of the spruce stands and what does the reforestation strategy look like?
The motto here, as on the stock market, is: risk minimization through diversification. By planting different tree species in a single plot, we create a structural strengthening of the affected areas and foster "neighborly support" among the trees. We're talking about approximately 10 tree species per plot to cultivate a healthy and resilient mixed forest. Since there are no long-term studies on this yet, the initial approach is "trial and error." There are indications of which tree species cope better with the climatic conditions. However, it should also be noted that a mixed forest presents a challenge for subsequent processing. Sorting for sawmills, which are usually specialized in a single wood species or quality grade, poses a significant logistical challenge. Obtaining a specific quantity of wood of the same quality can only be achieved with considerably more effort. This shift requires a change in thinking for both forest owners and sawmills in order to manage a forest commercially.
Which tree species are being specifically planted for the “Böker Forest”?
For this, we've chosen a healthy mix of deciduous and coniferous trees. The mixed forest includes maple, beech, and chestnut, as well as the conifers Douglas fir, larch, grand fir, and silver fir. In three to four years, the first fruits of our efforts will be clearly visible. It will definitely be a very beautiful forest.
How do you ensure that the plants can grow properly and aren't damaged? First, we hope that the coming spring won't be too hot and will bring sufficient rainfall, as irrigation isn't feasible on this scale. The greatest threat to the seedlings comes from deer. They nibble on everything near the ground, causing immense damage to the young plants. Wild boars also root up the affected areas while foraging for food. For this reason, the plots are temporarily fenced off to provide effective protection against browsing. After about five years, the deer can no longer reach the shoots, so the fencing can be removed. The posts decompose in the ground and are thus returned to nature. In the first few years, it's very important to clear the young trees of ferns and thorny bushes, as these can literally crush the seedlings in the snow. However, we are optimistic, as 70% of the cleared areas have already been replanted.
How many plants were planted this planting season alone, and how many more are planned?
In the spring, we planted approximately 20,000 seedlings of 10 different tree species. We plan to plant the same number again in the fall. This is enough for an area of 10 hectares. With my farm's total size of 100 hectares, this means we've already been able to reforest 10% in just one year. It's wonderful to see that there's a future for our local forests.
What are the next steps?
First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the management of Böker, who, with the "Böker Tree Campaign," have brought the importance of our forests into sharper focus. My thanks also go, of course, to the numerous Böker customers who participated in the campaign. Our society faces a major challenge: recognizing and managing global climate change. We are using this as an opportunity to carry out further projects of this kind in the future. To this end, we plan to establish a non-profit organization that will raise funds from industry, as was the case with Böker's sponsorship of the tree campaign. With this, we want to support forest owners who cannot afford to plant trees due to the losses of recent years. I am very optimistic that reforestation will progress so that future generations can benefit from healthy forests.